Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I love this (great but expensive) product, and after years finally broke down and bought the 'gallon' from WEN. I am perplexed and bothered though by something that I can only hope is a fluke. The consistency is nowhere NEAR what you get from a smaller (16 or 32 oz) bottle. The consistency of this gallon jug is more like a thick lotion, rather than a stiff, concentrated cream as I'm used to. I feel like it has been diluted and/or watered down. - ?? My whole motivation for buying the gallon jug finally was to SAVE money, not pay for more volume but a lesser quality of product. I am hoping my batch is just a one-time fluke, but $200 is a LOT TO SPEND on a fluke. I will call WEN today, but have a feeling I will get a patent answer of "it's fine". I would rather hear from other buyers/reviewers. Has anyone else out there witnessed the same?? - thx. And yes I purchased DIRECTLY from WEN through Amazon. I figure if nothing else, and WEN IS diluting the gallons, at least they'll see this review and realize we're catching on. 3/23/13 update: I have emailed the seller (WEN) and will post their response here when available. 4/11/13 update: WEN sent me a replacement gallon, though according to their interpretation of my bottle, it WAS within their "2-year shelf life" parameter of being OK. I have upped the rating now to 4 stars because they were so accommodating, and because WEN is a great product (though RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE). I have to say though that even the replacement bottle still has a lesser consistency/fragrance/effect than the smaller bottles seem to have. According to one posted response below, there are variations on the formulas, depending on distributor - ? That would answer the mystery. I will pay closer attention to the formulas of both the smaller bottles, and the larger gallon. 4/19/13: The first 3 ingredients of the gallon are: water, aloe vera juice, and glycerin. Anyone out there have a smaller bottle who can post the first 3-4 ingredients in it? I'd like to compare. thanks! 5/22/13 update: lowering this to 2 stars: DO NOT BUY THE GALLON! It is NOT THE SAME PRODUCT. It smells the same (sort of, but weaker) but the consistency and effect are nowhere near what the original is. I am almost halfway through the first jug now (forcing myself to use it as it is far too expensive too simply waste). This is NOT the Wen by Chaz Dean that you get in the smaller bottles. This product is greasy/squishy, and leaves my hair feeling 'empty' and with fly-aways (something I never have). With the original smaller-bottle WEN formula, my hair felt strong and resilient. With the formula in the smaller bottles of WEN, I used to rub a tiny bit between my palms and distribute it lightly through my hair as a leave-in conditioner as recommended. When I attempt to do that now (with the product in the jug), I am left with a shiny smear of grease in my hands! - and do not at all want to put this in my hair - though I made myself do so to counteract the fly-aways. My hair is left limp with this product. I still believe it is better for my hair than a regular shampoo, but the effect is maybe 1/5 of the great results I used to get with the smaller bottles. The ridiculous irony is that I'm actually considering buying a bottle of WEN by Chaz Dean to rotate usage with this other junk so my hair at least has some good days. For now I am stuck with 2 gallons of this stuff. What a mess. This is the most in-depth review I have ever written by the way, and am taking the time to do so so that others will not waste money on this big jug of disappointment. Honestly, I am surprised that no one has written about this prior.